An Oxford-led group of elite law schools is considering plans for a national
admissions test for undergraduates.

The top schools have devised proposals for an aptitude-based test to help
admission tutors distinguish between the best candidates for law courses after
record applications this year. If the proposals are agreed, students will be
sitting the tests for university entry in 2005.

The National Admissions Test for Law - or LNat as it has been dubbed - would
contain four 20-minute questions on comprehension, critical thinking, logic and
judgment, and an ethics essay, which might challenge potential students to
provide advice to a mock client, or explain how they might argue a brief in
court.

Pupils could opt to take the test at their own school, a nearby participating
school, or at a university law department.

Jane Minto, director of admissions at Oxford, said: "Subject-specific
tests can, alongside interviews, be of vital help in differentiating between
candidates who all have top predicted grades, and Oxford is taking a leading
role in developing a National Admissions Test for Law."

Cambridge, University College London, Kings College, London, Bristol,
Birmingham and Nottingham universities are all considering the proposals.

Professor Ian Dennis, head of the law department at UCL, said: "UCL is
interested in the proposals and they are taking part in discussions regarding
the tests, but we are yet to make a decision."

Dr Geoff Parks, director of admissions at Cambridge, said the university was
"seriously considering" Oxford's proposals. "We're definitely
interested in investigating further. With the BMat [Biomedical Admissions Test]
already in place and the thinking skills assessment being piloted, there is a
general interest in looking at aptitude tests."

The proposals are the first for a national entrance exam for a single
subject. Cambridge, Oxford and UCL all introduced aptitude tests for medical
students this year, and Cambridge is set to pilot its "thinking skills
tests", in an effort to distinguish between students and identify
potential.

"We are interested in aptitude tests because they give us a common
measurement of all our applicants," said Mr Parks. "Secondly the idea
behind the design is that they test skills which are inherent abilities, rather
than the functions of schooling; they offer a way of identifying potential. And
thirdly these tests will help us discriminate." This year, Cambridge
received 1,396 applicants for around 230 places on courses across its colleges.
Oxbridge received a 7.1% surge in applications across the board.

Mr Parks said there was a "good argument for a number of good law
schools using the same test".

"If universities are going to start introducing aptitude tests, it's
much better that students only have to sit them once. If these things are going
to exist we are of the view that universities should have to collaborate."